Keith Mack
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, had no living children with his wife at the time of his marriage. However, he fathered numerous children through various affairs. He was the brother of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, and the son of Queen Victoria's mother's brother, Duke Ernest of Coburg. Prince Ernest Augustus was also the first cousin of Queen Victoria. He was considered as a potential husband for Queen Victoria, but most people favored his brother, Prince Albert.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ernest Augustus Karl Johann Leopold Alexander Eduard |
| Title | Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |
| Birth | 21 June 1818 |
| Death | 22 August 1893 |
| Parents | Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg |
| Spouse | Alexandrine Luise Amalie Friederike Elisabeth Sophie, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |
| Relationship with Queen Victoria | Brother of Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria |
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What You'll Learn
- Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was a notorious womanizer
- He had countless affairs and contracted venereal disease
- Despite this, his wife, Princess Alexandrine of Baden, remained loyal and devoted
- Ernest was considered for the Greek throne, but this never materialised
- He had a close relationship with his brother, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was a notorious womanizer
Despite his brother's warnings about his continued promiscuity, Ernest was married for 51 years to Princess Alexandrine of Baden, who became Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Together, they visited Queen Victoria in Paris in 1890. Some historians believe that while Ernest was able to father children, his wife remained infertile due to his promiscuity before their marriage.
Prince Albert had urged his brother to find a suitable bride, believing that marriage would be good for him. However, Albert also cautioned Ernest against marrying until his "condition" had fully recovered, warning that his promiscuity could render him incapable of fathering children. Despite these warnings, Ernest continued his womanizing ways, which were noted by those around him, including Victoria's lady-in-waiting, Sarah Lyttelton, who observed his deteriorating appearance.
The impact of Ernest's promiscuity on his wife, Alexandrine, was also noted. Lady Eleanor Stanley, one of Victoria's maids-of-honour, commented on Alexandrine's delicate health, describing her as "very sweet at parting, and kissed us all round; she looked very delicate, as white as a sheet, and more fit to be in her bed than undertaking a long journey." Despite the challenges, Victoria loved Ernest loyally for Albert's sake and considered Alexandrine a sister.
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He had countless affairs and contracted venereal disease
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, had countless affairs and reportedly contracted a venereal disease as a result. Ernest was the elder brother of Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, and the son of the queen's maternal uncle, Leopold, who was King of the Belgians.
Ernest's promiscuity was a cause for concern within the family, with his brother Albert counselling him against finding a wife until he had recovered from the disease. Albert also warned Ernest that his continued promiscuity could leave him incapable of fathering children. Despite this, Ernest was married for 51 years to Alexandrine of Baden, and the couple visited Queen Victoria in Paris in 1890.
Ernest's extramarital affairs had a visible impact on his health and appearance. In 1839, Sarah Lyttelton, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria, observed that Ernest appeared "very thin and hollow-cheeked and pale". Despite his brother's warnings, Ernest continued his promiscuous behaviour and it is believed that he fathered several children out of wedlock.
The impact of Ernest's venereal disease extended beyond his own health, as it is believed that the disease rendered his wife, Alexandrine, infertile. Lady Eleanor Stanley, one of Victoria's maids-of-honour, commented on Ernest's deteriorating health, noting that he "looked dreadfully ill". Despite his condition, Ernest seemed to be in great spirits when in the company of his brother, Prince Albert.
Overall, Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Ernest II, led a life of excess and promiscuity, which ultimately had consequences for both his own health and that of his wife, Alexandrine. Despite contracting a venereal disease, Ernest continued his affairs and was unable to escape the chains of his own making.
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Despite this, his wife, Princess Alexandrine of Baden, remained loyal and devoted
Princess Alexandrine of Baden was the wife of Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Duke Ernest II of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Despite his deteriorating health, which was noted by observers at the time, and his brother Prince Albert's initial counsel against marriage, Princess Alexandrine remained loyal and devoted to her husband.
Lady Eleanor Stanley, one of Queen Victoria's maids-of-honour, noted the Duke's ill health, describing him as "dreadfully ill" and commenting on his pale and thin appearance. Despite this, Princess Alexandrine stayed by her husband's side, and Lady Eleanor also observed the couple's affectionate farewells, noting that the Princess "kissed us all round" and seemed "very sweet at parting."
Princess Alexandrine's devotion to her husband is further illustrated by an anecdote recalled by Prince Ernest Louis of Hesse, who remembered how the Princess used to trail behind her husband, affectionately calling out, "Ernst, my treasure." This behaviour caused some embarrassment at Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887 when it was mimicked by Prince Ernest Louis's brother-in-law, who was unaware that the Duke was within earshot.
Princess Alexandrine's loyalty and devotion to her husband, despite his health issues, are evident in these accounts. She remained by his side through his illness and was known for her affectionate behaviour towards him, even in public settings.
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Ernest was considered for the Greek throne, but this never materialised
Duke Ernest II of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was Queen Victoria's brother-in-law. He was the older brother of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. Ernest and Albert were raised as though they were twins, and their relationship grew stronger after their parents' separation and divorce, as well as their mother's eventual death.
In 1862, King Otto of Greece was deposed in a bloodless coup. The Greeks were eager to have someone close to Britain and Queen Victoria replace Otto. Initially, the Greeks desired Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (Victoria's second son) to succeed as King of Greece. However, after his ineligibility was confirmed, the search for a new candidate began. The British government suggested Duke Ernest as a possible candidate, reasoning that if he were to take the Greek throne, Alfred could immediately succeed Ernest as duke. Many were in favour of this nomination, including Prime Minister Lord Palmerston and Ernest's sister-in-law.
Despite the support for Ernest's nomination, he never became King of Greece. After Albert's death in 1861, Ernest published anonymous pamphlets against various members of the British royal family, which may have contributed to his not being selected for the Greek throne. Additionally, there may have been concerns about his suitability due to his "odd ways and uncontrollable tongue with his very lively imagination", as described by Queen Victoria in a letter to her daughter.
Instead of Ernest, the Greeks elected Prince William of Denmark, who became King George I of Greece in 1863.
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He had a close relationship with his brother, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law was Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He was the elder brother of Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, and the son of her mother's brother, Duke Ernest of Coburg.
Ernest and Albert were raised as though they were twins, and their bond strengthened as they grew older, following the separation and divorce of their parents and the eventual death of their mother. Their relationship experienced both closeness and minor disagreements. For instance, they had differing personalities, with Victoria noting that while Ernest was "lively and sociable", Albert was "full of goodness and sweetness". Despite their differences, they were close, and after Albert's death in 1861, Ernest accepted Albert's second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, as his heir-presumptive.
Victoria's relationship with her half-brother, Charles, 3rd Prince of Leiningen, was not as amicable. Charles was the son of her mother, the Duchess of Kent, from her previous marriage to Emich Carl, 2nd Prince of Leiningen. Victoria and Charles were not close during her youth, as he had allied himself with Sir John Conroy, whom she despised. Despite their strained relationship, Victoria gave her half-brother the Order of the Garter upon her accession. Charles died in 1856, leaving behind two sons, Ernst Leopold and Eduard Friedrich.
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Frequently asked questions
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law was named Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Queen Victoria and her brother-in-law, Ernest, had a complex relationship. While she loved him because he was her husband Prince Albert's brother, she was displeased by his decision to write his memoirs and was worried about their content regarding her late husband.
Yes, Queen Victoria had a half-brother named Charles, 3rd Prince of Leiningen. However, they were not close during her youth due to his alliance with Sir John Conroy, whom she disliked.
